Talladega Here We Come!!

Friday, April 23, 2010 We are on our way to Talladega for the 2010 Spring NASCAR race. We left last night from my office as I hopped in the RV from the sidewalk in front of our office in Winter Park. Not a common occurrence I am sure in Winter Park, FL. We drove until around 10:30 p.m. and stopped in a rest area to get some much needed "shut-eye" for a few hours, just outside of Perry, Georgia. We are actually making very good time and hope to be at the Track and setting up camp around 11:00 a.m. (which actually will be Central Time). It is great coming this way when we gain an hour, but going home is not so fun. We just stopped for fuel for the RV and Us (McDonald's Frappe) and it is 7:30 a.m. We left the Rest Area at 6 a.m.

Hopefully we won't be stopping again until we get closer and find a place to get some groceries for the weekend. Cully will be meeting us and staying with us for the weekend, too. He's just coming off a week in Mexico on vacation.

Can't wait to get to the track and hear the roar of those engines again.

See ya on the road.

March 1, 2010

Here we are 60 days into this year of 2010. What a busy time it has been for us. It seems like after the Holidays you think life will slow down and you will be able to relax and hopefully not be so busy. Not for us. Life just keeps on going, which in the long run is a good thing.

We had a great time in Pigeon Forge & Nashville, TN and surrounding area over the Christmas Holidays with Michelle and Rob. Christmas in the mountains is something we all decided we would be doing again. It was so peaceful, relaxing and so much fun. We just need to get the rest of the family on board to join us. After our 4 days at the Cabin we spent 4 more days in Nashville with Cully and let him be our tour guide of the sites and sounds of Nashville. I want to go back there sometime for more fun times, too. Here's a link to our pictures from the trip.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2183445015/a=2708781_2708781/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

January we took Elani to Daytona's Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway to see some Driver's and get some autographs. We had so much fun with her there. She was totally in awe of the sights, sounds and how friendly the drivers were to her. She got plenty of autographs and drivers talking to her. She even got Jeff Gordon's autograph on her hat as he passed by her on the fence and then she got to ask him a question during the Forum. She was in 7th Heaven.
We met some of our friends from Michigan one night for dinner and did a lot of catching up with and about the families and friends from there. We need to do that more.

February started out with a Gaither Vocal Band Concert in Lakeland, FL with Tim and Cheryl Bair. We had a great time for 4 1/2 hours of great music and a spiritual uplift!

February was jammed packed as it is the beginning of NASCAR Race Season. We took Elani to her first NASCAR race at Daytona - the Gator Duels. It was so cold, but she had a great time camping with us and taking in all the fun. She listened to Jeff Gordon on the scanner, was right down by the fence when the cars came flying by, got her picture taken with DIGGER and other fun things in the merchandise trailer area. She got to meet the Hauler Driver (Mr. Dale) from the # 77 Sam Hornish Team and we had dinner with them. They are best buds now! Elani's papa took her to the Daytona 500 and they sat on the super-stretch where all the action took place - They saw all the wrecks.
Last weekend I had the awesome privilege of singing with a group for the Adventist Health System Conference on Missions for the Sabbath Services. I am always blessed to be a part of this group and to use what God has given me to praise Him for what He has done for me.
At the end of March we will be heading to Bristol, TN for the Race Weekend. Hopefully, I will have some pictures to share with you. We weren't able to go last year. I am looking forward to this fun-filled weekend.

See you on the Road!

I'm Back

I can't believe I've neglected this blog for this long. Time sure flies when we are having so much fun!! I've got a lot of catching up to do, so I will try to make it brief, but informative.
August flew by without much excitement, other than lots of pool and/or beach time.
September 1st we took an extra long weekend and went to the NASCAR race in Atlanta. While there we celebrated out 26th Wedding Anniversary by relaxing at the Track (just the two of us). Then Cully and Janine arrived to join us for the rest of the Race Weekend.
October 2nd we went to Myrtle Beach, SC for a Gaither Fan Fest - three concerts in two days - It was amazing and so uplifting as always. We are putting this on our calendar every year for sure. We took Elani to the Pumpkin Patch and Falling Leaves in Celebration, FL and later in the month we took her to Seaworld so that she could Trick or Treat there. We had a blast. This will also become an annual event. We were in Talladega, AL for Halloween and Hallo-Dega. That was a cold, raining race weekend, except for Race Day, it was just cold! Fun times though.
The middle weekend of November we were in Homestead-Miami for the last race of 2009. What a weekend, what a way to end the season! We were fortunate to have a friend who has a friend that got us HOT PASSES for the whole Race Weekend. This means that you found us in the Pits, by the Garages and hanging out at the Haulers all weekend long. It was amazing and so much fun. We got up close with drivers, owners and pit crew members all weekend. I got some amazing pictures from inside of Jeff Gordon's pit during the race, on Pit Road before the Race and at Driver Intro's. This experience topped off our 2009 Race Season. Thanks to Cully, Diane and Dale for getting us the passes and allowing us to hang with the big shots!
Thanksgiving Weekend we were on the beach again at the Bon Aire Resort in St. Pete Beach. It was cold, but we walked on the beach and lounged around the heated pool. We had Thanksgiving Dinner with the Ealy Family and did some shopping on Friday and got lots of R&R.
November 30 Rudy has his left knee replaced and now on the road to recovery. It is a long haul, but he is on the mend and making progress very nicely. I've had to cook, clean up, do laundry, drive everywhere, help with physical therapy sessions, and keep the place running. It's been a challenge for me, but we are surviving and it will be back to normal soon.
December 23rd we will be leaving for Pigeon Forge, TN for Christmas in the mountains with Michelle and Rob. The shopping is done, presents are wrapped and the car is ready to be packed. We are looking forward to a little snow and some time in front of the fireplace or in the hot tub and more R&R. After a few days at the cabin our plan is to head to Nashville and be tourists for a few days (staying with Cully) and relaxing some more before 2010 rolls in.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all who read this and our prayer is that you will come to know the Saviour of the World, that came as a babe to save the world from its sin, as we have. There is a line from a song I heard on the radio that makes me think....... "How many Gods have sent their only Son to die for me......not one". I am thankful today and everyday that God sent His Son as a Baby to this world to provide Salvation to all that choose to believe.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and we hope you have a Blessed New Year.

4th of July Pics

4th of July, 2009

We had a very relaxing 4th of July long weekend full of sun, sand, sharks-teeth, shells and fun!

We left on July 1st and headed to Venice, FL for sometime in the sun at the many beaches in the Venice area.  We drove through a torrential rain storm all the way south on I-75.  By the time we arrived at our destination and got settled in (after doing some grocery shopping) the sun was out and we got ready for the next day and hitting the beach.  

Each day that we were there from July 1 through July 6, we would get up and have breakfast and then hit the Beach, any beach, it really didn't matter, a long as it had waves, the Gulf, sand and Shark's Teeth.  We would stay until around 2 p.m. and then head home for showers and lunch.  We would then relax and enjoy the peaceful time with hardly any cell phone service.  I completed 22 Scrapbook pages over those 6 days - Very productive!

On the 4th we went to Venice Beach and got the perfect spot in the sand, so Elani could dig and watched the sun set before the Fireworks started.  Sunday was our last day at the beach and then we headed home on Monday.  What a great relaxing place without a care in the world.  Elani had a ball playing in the waves and sand at the beaches.  It was hard getting her to come out of the water to go home every day.  Just had to promise her that we would be back the next day!  She is like a little fish!

More Michigan Pics

Catch up Time

I can't believe I have neglected this blog for the past two months.  We've been so busy, but we are now settled in at home for a couple of months.

June 25th we flew to Michigan to celebrate my birthday with our daughter Michelle.  We took Elani with us.  Rudy found some great rates on flights and we couldn't pass it up.  When we arrived in Grand Rapids at 1:00 p.m., Michelle picked us up and we drove to her house where we relaxed for a couple of hours before going to The Bear Claw for dinner with my Mom and Don.  Michelle made a cake and brought it, but it wasn't edible (we tried).....  long story.  We took lots of pictures outside the restaurant and then down along Lake Cadillac.  This time of year, it doesn't get dark in Michigan until almost 10:00 p.m.  I forgot that about Michigan summers.

Friday we worked in Michelle's garage sorting through some boxes that she was storing for us and we threw a lot of stuff away, too.  In the afternoon we went to Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Paul's house on Rose Lake.  They took us on a pontoon ride and Elani caught her very first fish and then another one.  After two she was done with fishing (they stopped biting).  It was so nice and very relaxing riding around the lake.  Michelle fixed dinner and we ate on their patio.  While Rob was giving Elani rides on his 3-wheeler, Michelle and I took off for our traditional photo-shoot at Lake Cadillac.  We took lots of pictures of just Michelle and me.  Our time together.  Very special to me.  

Saturday we went to my mom's house on the Muskegon River and tubed down the river for 1 1/2 hours.  It was very refreshing to say the least.  We never got off the tubes once after we started the ride back to the house.  When we arrived mom had fresh strawberry shortcake waiting for us.  Another thing I miss about Michigan summer's - sweet juicy strawberries.  The Florida grown just aren't the same.  Later that afternoon we came back to Michelle and Rob's and had grilled chicken, pasta salad for dinner.  We made a fire in the back yard and roasted marshmellows and made smores in the spitting rain with umbrellas. We didn't let a little rain stop us from having a good time.

Sunday we had to get up early and head back to Grand Rapids for our returning flight.

When we arrived there we found out that our flight had been cancelled and wouldn't leave until Monday at 4:00 p.m.  This was not going to work for us, so they made us other arrangements.  We had to rent a car and drive to Fort Wayne, IN and catch a 7:30 flight that would arrive in Tampa/St. Pete at 9:30 p.m.  Janine had our car, so she drove to the airport and picked us up and we finally climbed into bed around 1:00 a.m.  My alarm went off for Monday's work day at 5:00 a.m.  Needless to say, I was somewhat tired by the time I left work that night at 6 p.m.

It was a great weekend though.  A great way to spend my birthday, too!